West Bengal Election Commission Cancels Voting at Falta Assembly Seat
The Election Commission of West Bengal has declared the voting at the Falta assembly seat invalid, citing numerous irregularities during the initial voting. A new election date has been set for May 21, 2026, with the counting of votes scheduled for May 24. This decision follows similar actions taken at other seats due to allegations of electoral fraud. The re-voting saw a significant turnout, but controversies arose, particularly in Diamond Harbour, where allegations of mistreatment by central forces were reported. Read on for more details about the situation and its implications.
May 3, 2026, 11:43 IST
Cancellation of Voting at Falta Assembly Seat
The Election Commission has annulled the voting that took place at the Falta assembly seat in West Bengal. On Saturday, the Commission made a significant announcement stating that all 285 polling booths in this constituency will undergo re-voting.
When Will Re-Voting Occur in Falta?
According to the latest directive from the Election Commission, re-voting at all 285 centers in the Falta assembly seat is scheduled for May 21, 2026. Voting will commence at 7 AM and conclude at 6 PM. The counting of votes for this seat will take place on May 24, 2026.
Reasons Behind the Election Cancellation
The Commission revealed that reports of irregularities surfaced during the voting on April 29, 2026. Numerous polling centers failed to adhere to electoral regulations, disrupting the democratic process. Following an investigation into these serious complaints, the Commission decided to conduct elections again across the entire seat.
Re-Voting at Other Seats
Prior to the Falta seat, the Commission conducted re-voting at 15 booths across two other constituencies on Saturday. This included 11 centers in Magrahat West and 4 in Diamond Harbour. The re-voting was ordered on Friday due to allegations of electoral fraud, and it was carried out peacefully on Saturday.
Voting Percentage and Controversy
During the re-voting on Saturday, there was a strong turnout, with 86.90% of votes recorded by 5 PM. However, controversy arose at the Diamond Harbour seat, where the Trinamool Congress alleged that central forces mistreated a disabled voter and their mother at booth number 179 in Chanda Primary School, leading to local protests.